If you live in a home in Chicago or elsewhere with well water, the odds are likely that you have a water softener installed in your home. You might have already known this, but did you know that water softening is also an important process used in some municipal water sources, too?

Water softeners are the most popular way to treat hard water and remove contaminants in residential environments. But, what exactly occurs in this water softening process? What do these water softeners do to provide you with clean water?

Water softeners remove minerals from water classified as “hard.” This change is accomplished through an ion exchange. The exchange of hard minerals, like calcium and magnesium, for sodium ions is a function of all water softening units. The other processes involved to deliver the best water to your home are where differences found in water filtration units and similar appliances are seen.

While soft water may be your primary objective, a more thorough filtration of your home’s water will lead to better results. Additional filtration is accomplished through several appliances or through a multifunction unit, like Hague’s WaterMax, that does more than soften water and filter sediment.

5 Steps To Water Filtration

Water softening is only a single step of a multi-stage filtration water treatment appliance. Integrating multiple steps to your water softening needs delivers great water! There are 5 primary steps to the traditional water filtration process.

  1. Sediment Filtration: As water enters the unit, it passes through a sediment filter. This filter catches sediment as the water is pumped to the next step in the filtration process.
  1. Oxidation-Reduction Treatment: A mix of two alloys, copper and zinc, is used in the next filtration step. These substances exchange electrons with chlorine and other contaminants contained in the water to create harmless substances or bond to the media in the unit. The alloy’s antimicrobial properties never deteriorate or deplete. The process also makes carbon filters bacteriostatic, i.e. carbon filtration systems last longer with a smaller chance of bacteria growth.
  1. Carbon Filtration: The carbon filtration step removes remaining chlorine in the water. It also reduces a wide array of chemicals, including volatile organic compounds or VOCs. A bed of activated carbon removes impurities using a chemical absorption process.
  1. Ion Exchange: The ion exchange process reduces heavy metals and calcium. This step removes calcium, magnesium and other metals that are the primary culprits for hard water. By replacing these metals with low volumes of sodium the water is softened.
  1. Bacteriostat: Finally, this last step is necessary to prevent bacteria growth within the unit and the home.

Here’s a quick summary of the process.


All In One Solution

While the process is multi-step, water softening appliances like Hague’s WaterMax are able to complete the entire function within a single unit. This eliminates the need for multiple pieces of equipment and saves space in your home. The water softening process leaves your home with great water.

Enjoy these benefits of water softeners:

  • Eliminate objectionable tastes and odors
  • Water-using appliances last longer
  • Dishes are cleaner
  • Skin and hair are soft and silky
  • Food and beverages taste better
  • Save time on house cleaning
  • Save money on soaps and detergents

Now that you have a more thorough understanding behind water softeners and how they work to provide you the purest drinking water, learn more about the state-of-the-art WaterMax® water softener at Hague Quality Water. Then reach out to us in Chicago to get a free water test in order to determine what’s in your water and if a new water softener solution is right for you!